Vibrant Community

On Friday night of last week, a group of students at John Knox 'outed' me.  They figured out what they thought was my master plan.  "You're going to go to the other school so that you can get dessert there too!"  Indeed.  It was true.  I got to enjoy dessert with the John Knox community as they kicked off the year together and then drove up to Covenant to do the same.  And there was plenty of dessert left!!

Enjoying time together over food and common vision is a healthy practice of vibrant community.  It was a privilege to take part in both events that happened simultaneously.   As we look forward to 2016-17, there are many opportunities that we will have to gather together to dialogue, to work together, and to celebrate.  As we anticipate the year together, encouragement from the book of Hebrews sets an excellent tone for us as NACE:  

Hebrews 10: 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another...

Please pray for the work of many NACE committees that will begin this week in earnest.  There is much work to do, but we hold tightly to hope, we trust God to keep His promises.  How will we (you?) motivate one another to acts of love and good works?  

Take off your shoes...

In a course I took once, our instructor asked us to take off our shoes as we entered.  His assertion:  that if we entered into that course and into our education faithfully, we would be standing on Holy ground.  We would enter as one person, but emerge as someone new, touched and changed by God. That moment has never left me, and I still carry it as a reminder as I embark on learning or teaching each year.

The idea of Holy ground is carried well in both schools' themes this year.  "Anchored to God's Promises" at John Knox and "Rooted in Christ" at Covenant both emphasize that our very identity is in the Lord whom we serve.  As we rely on the anchor able to firmly secure us to the sea bed or the root system tightly entwined into the soil, we are given and have the freedom to hoist our sail and grow and explore, or to branch out, blossom and grow, both fulfilling our created purpose.

It's a new year!  As we enter this year of God's faithfulness, let's remind ourselves that we are indeed on Holy ground, and that we will each emerge in June as new creations... evidenced by God's handiwork in our lives here!  Are you ready for God to work?

Let your Light Shine!

Here we are!!! The last week of school this year! We began this year looking at how we need God - we need Him and His power to plug into in order to shine.  God has been faithful as always with his presence and power.  So many times we have been able to see His hand at work in our community, among students, staff, volunteers, parents, and supporters. We also knew we needed to meet his command to shine as children of light.  This was evident daily as God used us as His 'lightbulbs' in our work, in our interactions with others, and in our praise of Him.  As we move on from this year, we are thankful that we can continue to shine as children of light - that God's power goes with us no matter where we are! As we take a break from the regular routines, God can continue to shine through... whether at the campground, the cottage, at home, in professional development classes, or in special summer activities. 

We look forward to seeing you, the Lord willing, at the beginning of September! To God be the glory in our work, our rest, and in our play.

We Prayed for you today....

Not long ago, I received a message from our partners at the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools that they had spent time as a staff that morning praying for us - for Covenant Christian School, and a number of things that they had specifically prayed for.  As a support group and part of a small community connected to many other communities, they spend time intentionally on and for us at the seat of the throne of our Lord, Saviour, and Creator.

This past weekend was one that was filled with activity that our membership were involved with and cared about.  Fundraising walks for Diabetes and Muscular Dystrophy, and the Ride to Conquer Cancer are just a few ways in which members of NACE involve themselves in communities outside of our own community. Prayers of support for the Bosma family out of Ancaster, and of course prayers for the people and communities surrounding Orlando who have been so devastatingly affected by the US's newest 'biggest' statistic of the largest mass shooting in its history.

Prayers are powerful.  So are words of support, encouragement.  As a small community, our impact spreads wide and deep.  It's how we serve with gladness, and share community.  Never underestimate the power of prayer, or the power of the words of encouragement that say "I prayed for you today....."

Psalm 107:28-30, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

A different perspective

I think this is the first, if not only, Covenant Connection that has been written from the rooftop.  A few weeks ago, I challenged our students to meet and surpass their past fundraising achievements for the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation - our local health care facility.  Quickly and quietly, they did just that, culminating in our annual 'Jerry's Peach Bud 10k' on Friday morning.  I challenged them to offer up to their families and neighbours the opportunity to support the sick in their community.

So, as a result of their diligence and work ($8300 and counting...), I am now sitting at the top of our school building... literally.  It's a beautiful day, and I'm enjoying basking in their fundraising results.  (The newspaper photographer is here documenting my 'perch').

A new position gives you a different perspective.  Often in the daily rush of activity, one can get stuck in seeing only the immediate.  Taking a bit of time out to see a more 'global' perspective lets you see your context better.  Looking out over the town of Smithville and across the Niagara region, I am wondering... "What would happen if Covenant Christian School disappeared tomorrow?  Would people notice?  Would there be an impact?"  As a leader, one certainly hopes so, but it also gives us pause to consider the 'serving' aspect of our tagline.  How else can we grow in our impact of showing Christ's love to our region?  In other words, how can we make sure that we are an integral part of our community and our region?

Our students are NOT the future of the church or leaders of tomorrow.... they ARE the church; they are leading already TODAY.  Taking hold of opportunities like fundraising for the Peach Bud Run and our local health care facility, and having students grow in character, learning, and service is one big way that Covenant is making a difference.

As we move forward to complete this academic year and lay plans for next year, we remind ourselves that if we plug in to God's power, it is then that we can shine as Children of Light.... here in our school, in our community, and beyond.

Field day Grit and Life Grit - Honouring God in HOW we do things.

It's the beginning of 'Field day' week. I have to admit that there's a huge sense of anticipation for me. I LOVE track and field. After coaching it for 15 years, it becomes a bit of a way of life, if not a bit of an obsession.  Not coaching it now is difficult for me. I find myself often wandering over to classes doing their running practice, to the gym during a high jump practice after school, or just to watch a class through the window as they prepare.

I wasn't a stellar athlete as a kid myself, so what was it that kept me coming back for more?  The challenge, the team atmosphere, and the encouragement to develop and improve.  Fast forward many years to now. I've heard of so many tough stories of kids who hate field day. For every kid with a ribbon, there are plenty more who don't have any, and that is difficult, especially for the sensitive, or driven/competitive child.  

Coming in to my second field day at Covenant, I am so grateful to the many people who have structured how we do field day. I LOVE the way we celebrate this event.  Cross-grade teams, cheers, support, standards instead of ribbons for achievement, not specific placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd). It paves the way for a great day where each student can and does contribute to a team's performance and experience.

In my experience as a student and as a coach, I have never seen a student athlete grow in their ability without a heap-load of encouragement. Growth in ability also mandates that they needed to pick themselves up time and time again after multiple failures.  Any of my athletes in the past who didn't know how to deal with failure were the ones who quickly abandoned the work because it was 'too hard'. We all know how important sticking to a commitment, pushing through tough times, and building resilience is in life.  Surrounding kids with the encouragement of a team when the tasks get difficult is one small way we have to remind them that sticking with it and giving their absolute best is valuable. Every point counts!!

Chris Horst writes about how he watches his son navigate his field day (unsuccessfully), but then uses that experience to continue to encourage grit. http://www.dadcraft.com/developing-grit/ Our kids will experience failure, they will be discouraged, and they will want to give up.  Like Chris, I pray that we will be able to find ways to help them develop character through it... to become determined, and not see the 'win' as the ultimate goal.  (read his story!)

John Bloom writes about how we find many examples of people in the Bible who developed grit as central to their service.   http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/true-grit  I'm sure you could develop an even longer list of your own!

As we enter field day week, encourage your children to work hard, play hard, encourage well, to honour God in their best efforts in their activities, and to demonstrate grit.  It's activities like these (and so many others at Covenant) that help them develop and learn to love the journey of growth that God continues to work out in each one of them daily.

Teachers

I want to share with you this morning the experience I have working with a group of  Christian Educators. Most of you are aware of the fact that each of them teaches classes, prepares lessons, works through assessment and evaluation of each student's progress, leads extra curricular activities, and commits themselves to ongoing professional development and excellent education at NACE.

What many of you don't see is the time that is spent behind the scenes in care of the children here. Outside of formal class time and time interacting with students is a great deal of collaboration that supports their craft. Specifically, our devotional time on Friday afternoons and on Monday mornings are times that not only root us in the gospel, but also spur on conversation about how we can serve our students better.

Last week Friday, following and during devotions, specific students were held up in prayer. One for the day she had just had that was difficult; another for struggles outside of school, others who are having issues getting along. The prayer time is important for each of these children, but so is the subsequent 'problem solving' time that occurs. It's amazing to encourage and witness a community of believers (a cloud of witnesses?) rally around a teacher's care and effort to reach a specific child or group of children. This staff is not only concerned about your son/daughter's academic achievement... they care deeply about their emotional, social, and spiritual well being!

Today, we began the day and week again in devotions, ready for a new week. It's raining out, and somewhat grey, but inside our staff room were voices raised, words of encouragement, and the stoking of a fire where the Spirit himself dwells in us and in our teaching, and in the regular care and concern for our kids!

May 2-6 is officially 'Teacher Appreciation Week'. While this may be another reason that stores give us to come in and purchase something, I would encourage you to find a way to share with your child(ren)'s teacher(s) our appreciation for the care and support they provide daily. An encouraging word goes a long way to bolster and fire up a group that is in the midst of 'winding up' the school year! 1 Thess 5:11 " So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."